Help:Categories

1. Help:Categories

Introduction to Categories

Categories are a fundamental organizational tool in a wiki, and particularly within MediaWiki, the software powering this very wiki. They allow you to group pages together based on shared themes, topics, or characteristics. This makes it significantly easier for users to navigate the wiki and find related information. Without categories, a wiki would quickly become a disorganized collection of pages, difficult to browse and maintain. Think of them as the index in a book, or the labels on files in a filing cabinet – they provide structure and accessibility. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to effectively use categories on this wiki.

Why Use Categories?

• **Organization:** The primary benefit is simple organization. Related pages are grouped together, making it clear what topics are covered and how they connect.
• **Navigation:** Categories provide a clear path for users to explore the wiki. They can start with a broad category and then drill down into more specific subcategories.
• **Discovery:** Categories help users *discover* relevant content they might not have otherwise found. Someone interested in a specific topic can browse the category to find all pages related to it.
• **Maintenance:** Categories make it easier to maintain the wiki. Administrators and editors can quickly identify pages that need updating or review within a specific topic area.
• **Search Enhancement:** While not a direct replacement for search, categories complement it. A category listing provides a curated collection of results, while search returns all pages matching a keyword, regardless of organization.
• **Data Analysis:** Categories can be utilized for analyzing content distribution and identifying gaps in coverage.

How to Categorize a Page

Adding a page to a category is incredibly simple. You just need to add one or more category links to the bottom of the page. The syntax is as follows:

```wiki ```

Replace `CategoryName` with the name of the category you want to add the page to. For example, to categorize this page itself, we would use:

```wiki ```

You can add a page to multiple categories. Just add a separate `` line for each category:

```wiki ```

Category Namespaces and Hierarchy

• **Category Namespace:** All category pages reside in the "Category" namespace. This means the full page title of a category is `Category:CategoryName`. You don't need to specify the namespace when *adding* a page to a category, but you do when *linking* to the category page itself.
• **Subcategories:** Categories can be organized hierarchically, creating subcategories. This allows for more granular organization. To create a subcategory, use a colon (`:`) in the category name. For example:

   ``

   This adds the page to the "Help:Editing" subcategory, which is itself a subcategory of the "Help" category.  The category page "Category:Help:Editing" will automatically appear as a subcategory on the "Category:Help" page.

• **Depth of Hierarchy:** While you *can* create deeply nested subcategories, it's generally best to keep the hierarchy relatively shallow (2-3 levels deep). Deeply nested categories can become difficult to navigate.

Creating a New Category

If the category you want to use doesn't exist, simply create it! Here's how:

1. **Create a Category Page:** Create a new page with the title `Category:YourNewCategoryName`. 2. **Add a Description:** On the category page, add a brief description of what the category covers. This helps users understand the category's purpose. 3. **Add Parent Categories (Optional):** If your new category is a subcategory, add a link to its parent category using the `` syntax. This establishes the hierarchical relationship. 4. **Categorize the Category:** It's good practice to categorize the category page itself. This helps with overall wiki organization.

Example:

To create a category for "Technical Analysis Strategies", you might create a page titled "Category:Technical Analysis Strategies" with the following content:

```wiki This category contains pages related to various technical analysis strategies used in financial markets. ```

This creates the new category and places it as a subcategory of the "Technical Analysis" category.

Hidden Categories

Sometimes, you need a category for administrative purposes or for tracking pages without it being visible to regular users. This is where hidden categories come in. To create a hidden category, add the `` magic word to the category page.

```wiki

This is a hidden category used for tracking pages needing review. ```

Hidden categories won't appear in the main category listings, but they can still be used for organization and reporting. They are primarily used by administrators and experienced editors.

Dealing with Over-Categorization and Mis-Categorization

• **Avoid Over-Categorization:** Don't add a page to every possible category! Focus on the *most relevant* categories. Over-categorization dilutes the usefulness of categories and makes it harder for users to find what they're looking for.
• **Regularly Review Categories:** Periodically review the categories on pages to ensure they are still accurate. Content changes over time, and a page might no longer fit a particular category.
• **Fix Mis-Categorization:** If you find a page in the wrong category, move it to the correct one. If a category is misnamed or poorly defined, consider renaming it or merging it with another category.
• **Use Category Discussion Pages:** If you're unsure about the best way to categorize a page, or if you disagree with the categorization, discuss it on the category's talk page (accessible by clicking the "Talk" tab on the category page).

Advanced Category Techniques

• **Defaultsort:** The `` magic word controls the sorting of pages within a category. By default, pages are sorted alphabetically by their title. `DEFAULTSORT` allows you to specify a different sort key. For example:

   ```wiki
   
   ```

   This will sort the page under the letter "S" in the category, even if the page title starts with a different letter.  Use this to ensure pages are listed in a logical order within the category.  This is especially useful for pages with leading articles like "The" or "A".

• **Noindex:** The `Template:NOINDEX` magic word prevents a category page from being indexed by search engines. This can be useful for hidden categories or categories that are still under development.
• **Category Tree:** The `Template:CategoryTree` template allows you to display a hierarchical tree of categories and subcategories on a page. This is a useful way to provide a visual overview of the category structure. See Help:Templates for more information on using templates.
• **WhatLinksHere:** Use the "What links here" feature (accessible from the toolbox on any page) to see which pages are categorized into a specific category. This is helpful for identifying potential mis-categorizations or for assessing the scope of a category.

Strategies, Technical Analysis, Indicators, and Trends – Category Examples and Links

To illustrate the practical application of categories, here are some examples related to financial trading and analysis. These are areas where categories are incredibly useful for organizing complex information.

• **Category:Trading Strategies:** A broad category for all trading strategies.

   *   **Subcategory:Day Trading Strategies:**  Strategies for short-term trading.
   *   **Subcategory:Swing Trading Strategies:** Strategies for medium-term trading.
   *   **Subcategory:Long Term Investing Strategies:** Strategies for long-term investments.

• **Category:Technical Analysis:** Pages about technical analysis methods.

   *   **Subcategory:Chart Patterns:**  Pages discussing specific chart patterns (e.g., Double Top, Head and Shoulders).
   *   **Subcategory:Candlestick Patterns:**  Pages discussing candlestick patterns (e.g., Doji, Engulfing Pattern).

• **Category:Technical Indicators:** Pages describing technical indicators.

   *   Moving Average
   *   Relative Strength Index (RSI)
   *   MACD
   *   Bollinger Bands
   *   Fibonacci Retracement
   *   Stochastic Oscillator

• **Category:Market Trends:** Pages analyzing market trends.

   *   Uptrend
   *   Downtrend
   *   Sideways Trend
   *   Trend Reversal
   *   Trend Confirmation

• **Category:Risk Management:** Pages about managing trading risk.

   *   Stop Loss Orders
   *   Position Sizing
   *   Risk-Reward Ratio

• **Category:Fundamental Analysis:** Pages describing fundamental analysis.

   *   Economic Indicators
   *   Financial Statements
   *   Company Valuation

• **Category:Forex Trading:** Pages about Forex trading

   * Currency Pairs
   * Forex Brokers
   * Pip Calculation

• **Category:Options Trading:** Pages about options trading

   * Call Options
   * Put Options
   * Options Greeks

• **Category:Cryptocurrency Trading:** Pages about cryptocurrency trading

   * Bitcoin
   * Ethereum
   * Altcoins

• **Category:Trading Psychology:** Pages about the psychological aspects of trading.

   * Fear and Greed
   * Emotional Control
   * Discipline in Trading

These are just a few examples. The specific categories you create will depend on the scope and content of your wiki.

Best Practices for Category Naming

• **Use Clear and Concise Names:** Category names should be easy to understand and accurately reflect the content they contain.
• **Be Consistent:** Use consistent naming conventions throughout the wiki.
• **Avoid Ambiguity:** Choose category names that are not ambiguous or open to interpretation.
• **Use Singular Nouns:** Generally, use singular nouns for category names (e.g., "Trading Strategy" instead of "Trading Strategies").
• **Capitalize Properly:** Follow standard capitalization rules.

Conclusion

Categories are an essential component of a well-organized and user-friendly wiki. By understanding how to create and use categories effectively, you can significantly improve the navigability and maintainability of this wiki. Remember to plan your category structure carefully, avoid over-categorization, and regularly review and update your categories to ensure they remain accurate and relevant. Mastering categories will empower you to contribute to a more accessible and informative wiki for all users. Explore the existing categories, experiment with creating new ones, and don't hesitate to ask for help if you need it.

Help:Contents Help:Page Help:Linking Help:Templates Help:Namespaces Help:Editing Special:Categories MediaWiki talk:Help:Categories Wikipedia:Categorization